File case and holder for photographic transparencies



April 8, 1958 c. M. SCRIPTURE 2,829,767

FILE CASE AND HOLDER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC TRANSPARENCIES Filed Sept. 21, 1955 FILE CASE AND HOLDER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC TRANSPARENCIES Charles M. Scripture, Detroit, Mich. Application September 21, 1955, Serial No. 535,703 7 3 Claims; (Cl. 206-73) This invention relates to a file case or container for holding photographic transparencies and particularly a case or holder useful in projecting the image of the transparencies.

transparency is a relatively light weight object about 2",

square and less than A in thickness. When the transparencies are to be viewed they are placed consecutively into a projecting machine and theimage is played upon a suitable screen. It is usually desired to keep the transparencies in proper consecutive order thus to show a series of events or a series of views of one event in proper consecutive order. The transparencies, being rather small and of light weight, are somewhat difficult to bandle as they are being projected in sequence, considering the fact that the operator of the projector is usually working in semi-darkness.

.One practice is to mount individual transparencies in relatively permanent backing structure, which-structure is actually a part of a file case or container; And when transparencies so equipped are projected some mechanism,

usually of a semi-automatic nature, slides the transparency out of and then back into the holder or container. Such an arrangement, however, is relatively expensive and furthermore requires an excessive amount of space for storage purposes. This is because each transparency, when so equipped with the permanent mounting structure, which is often of metal, is materially increased in thickness and then, too, the individual transparencies must be properly spaced relative to each other in the file case or container for proper sliding into and out of the file case or container.

It is an object of this invention to provide'a file case or container for transparencies so that the transparencies may be individually removed from the file case by hand, projected and then replaced in the file case in a convenient manner, and in a manner which can be performed with facility in semi-darkness. As the transparencies are removed, projected and retln'ned to the file case, one by one, such return to the file case results in the transparencies remaining in proper consecutive order. With this arrangement, .the ordinary paper or cardboard bound transparencies may be used thus conserving storage space, although, if desired, the individual transparencies may be enclosed in glass containers for more permanent preservation or even bound in metal or other material if desired.

The file case or holder of this invention is of simple constructionso that it can be made and supplied to the trade at a cost lower than the automatic or semi-automatic type ofconstruction. The invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a view of thefile case in open position illustrating its manner of use.

nate short of the upper edge thereof.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the closed container illustrating the structure for a support.

Fig. 3 is a partial view in section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a an enlarged detail view showing the structure in use.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view with parts in section show- 7 ing a preferred interior construction.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a dividing partition.

The container of this invention has a body portion with aside wall 1 and an opposite side wall 2, and a bottom wall 3. It has an end wall 4 and an end wall 5. The body is thus of box like form open at the top and the dimensions are such as to properly receive a plurality of transparencies therein as indicated at T.

The interior of the body is preferably constructed as illustrated in Fig. 5 with the wall 1 having an interior surface 10 of smooth or planar form and the wall 2 having a similar surface 11. The surfaces 10 and 11 do not extend to the top of their respective walls but termi- The inside surfaces of the walls 1 and 2 are preferably corrugated as shown at 12 and 13 and the dimension across the box from the corrugations 12 to the corrugations 13 is somewhat greater than the dimension between the walls 10 and 11. The

. bottom wall 3 has a central smooth or planar surface 15, and at a plane lower than the surface 15, the bottom has corrugated sections 16 and 17. The transparencies fit properly betwen the surfaces 10 and 11 and rest upon the surface 15.

In order to divide one group of transparencies from another group, partitions or dividing elements are provided as indicated in Fig. 6. The dividing partition 22 fit into the corrugations 12 and 13 and the projections,

23 and 24 seat in the corrugations 16 and 17. Thus a plurality of groups of transparencies may be placed in the body of the container and the partitions may be adjustably located to properly separate groups of transparencies, some groups of which may be small and some groups of which may be larger.

The cover for the body is actually more than the cover in that it itself is a form of container. The cover has a top wall 30 and side walls 31 and 32 and one end wall 35. The cover is connected to the body at the location of the edge of the top wall 30. This is a hinge type of connection to the top edge of the wall 5. The hinge is illustrated at 36. When in open position, the cover opens upwardly and provides a receiver or container in itself. The cover has no end wall opposite the end 35, and when closed the sides 31 and 32 pass over the sides 1 and 2 and the end wall 35 passes over the end wall 4.

The container when in use, that is, when the transparencies are being projected, is positioned so that the body and the cover are both angularly disposed as indicated in Fig. 1. For this purpose, means are provided for holding the container in this position. One manner of doing this is to provide the end wall 5 of double construction. As shown in Fig. 3, the end wall 5 has an inner panel 5a and an outer wall or panel 5b which may out portion 41 to expose a part of the support 40.

When in use the support 40 is pulled outwardly from its confining space, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, to thus serve as a support or strut to hold one end of the body of the container in an elevated position with respect to Patented Apr. 8, 1958 When a par-' a suppoi't 42 upon which the container may rest. To insure that the support does not slide back into its con fining space when so functioning, the support 40 may be provided with an ofiset or displaced portion 42. When the support is pushed into its confining space, the portion .42 may be partially collapsed, and then toothe wall portions 5a and 5b may be slightly expanded. In any event, this arrangement elfectivelyholds the support 40 in collapsed position by friction so that it will not fall out, and also when in use the displaced portion 42 engages the lower edge of one of the panels 5;: or 5b suificiently strong to hold the body of the container elevated.

In use, the container may be placed as shown in' Fig. 1. The group of transparencies indicated at T in Fig. 1 are to be projected and it will be noted that due to incline of the body of the container the transparencies are self-retaining and gravitate to the lower end thereof. The uppermost transparency is first removed as shown at T1 and placed in the machine to be projected. After it is projected, it is removed from the projector, as at T2, and placed in the lower end of the cover substantially against the wall 35. Due to the incline of the cover this transparency remains in its proper position and does not fall forwardly nor does its bottom edge slip forwardly. In Fig. 1 only one group of the transparencies is indicated although it will be appreciated that several groups maybe placed in the body of the container with the groups separated by the requisite number of partitions. Incidently, the partitions are preferably cut out in their upper edge, as illustrated at 25,

to facilitate removal of transparencies near the partition. Also it will be noted, as illustrated in Fig. 1, that a number of transparencies have been transferred from the container to the cover. The remaining group of transparencies in the body are sufficiently inclined to gravitate to the lower end of the body and in this way they remain in proper consecutive order in that no one or more transparencies tend to tip or fall to the bottom of the body of the container thus to be misplaced. Similarly, the number of transparencies in the cover gravitate and lean against the lower end of the cover. After the group of transparencies have been projected, the entire group may be lifted from the cover and replaced in the body and thus remain in the same order.

The container, as well as its cover or other parts, may be made of suitable material, such as plastic or metal, or of cardboard or fiber board. Where made of plastic, for example, the elements 50 through 50 of t'he wall 5 may be adhered together. If made of metal, for example, these parts may be united by a bonding metal, riveted or welded. Thus, a simple file case and holder is provided which not only provides for storage of transparencies with a minimum of space but which also greatly facilitates the manipulation of the transparencies when they are projected. An operator, working in .semidarkness, needs no particular lighting to engage with the fingers and remove the uppermost transparency in the container. Similarly, the operator needs no particular illumination to place the exposed transparency in the cover. Moreover, no special mechanism is involved and his convenient to use the cardboard bound transparencies without the individual metallic or plastic covers or retainers which are necessary in the more automatic or semi-automatic type of container.

I claim:

1. A file case and holder for photographic transparencies comprising, a body having side walls, end Walls, and a bottom wall, said body being of elongated form and of such width and depth asto receive and hold a plurality of transparencies positioned on edge and transversely therein, acover having a top wall, side walls, one end wall, and open at the opposite end, and of such of the body to close the body in one position, means hingedly connecting the body and the cover at a location adjacent the top edge of one end wall of the body and adjacent the edge of the top wall of the cover at the open end thereof, whereby the cover may pivot beyond 180 to open position with the open end of the cover adjacent and above one end of the body and with the other ends of the cover and body remote from each other, and means movable on the body to a position for holding the adjacent ends of the body and cover in elevated position with respect to a support when in open position, whereby the body and the cover are both inclined relative to the horizontal and transparencies therein remain on edge in a stable leaning position, the end wall of the cover being then positioned to serve as a rest for transparencies to aid in the handling thereof in viewing.

2. A file case and holder for photographic transparencies comprising, a body having side walls, end walls, and a bottom wall, said body being of elongated form and of such width and depth as to receiveand hold a plurality of transparencies positioned on edge and transversely therein, a cover having a top wall, side walls, one end wall, and open atthe opposite end, and of such width and length that the side walls thereof and the end wall thereof fitover the side walls and one end wall of the body to close the body in one position, means hingedly connecting the body and the cover at a location adjacent the top edge of one end wall of the body and adjacent the edge of the top wall of the cover at the open end thereof arranged to permit relative movement of the body and the cover beyond 180, whereby the cover may pivot to open position with the open end of'the cover adjacent and above one end of the body and with the other ends of the cover and body remote from each other, anda slide on the body shiftable to projected position to serve as a strut and ,hold the adjacent ends of the cover and body in elevated position whereby both the body and the cover are angularlydisposed relative to the horizontal, said cover end wall being disposedalso at an angle to the horizontal to serve as a rest for transparencies.

3. A file case and holder for photographic transparencies comprising, a body having side walls, end walls,

'* and a bottom wall, the side walls having inner planar width and length that the side walls thereof and the surfaces spaced from'each' other so as to receive a plurality of transparencies placed transversely therein, said planar surfaces terminating below the upper edges of the side walls, said side walls having inside surfaces of corrugated form positioned above the planar surfaces and spaced from each other a distance greater than the distance between the planar surfaces, the bottom wall having a planar surface upon which the transparencies are adapted to rest, the width of the planar surface on the bottom wall being less than that of the bottom wall, and the bottom wall having at least one surface of corrugated form positioned below its planar surface, and partition means having a body portion receivable in the container between the planar surfaces of the side walls and having projecting portions for engaging the corrugated form of the side walls and the bottom wall to hold the partition in position, wherein related groups of transparencies may be located between partitions, and a container to serve as a cover having a top wall, side walls and one end wall and open at its opposite end and being proportioned so that the side walls thereof and the end wall thereof fit over the side walls and one end wall of the body to close the body in one position, means hingedly connecting the body and container at alocation adjacent one end of the body and adjacent the open end of the container, whereby the container may pivot to open position beyond with the closed end thereof remote from one end of the body, and means for holding the adjacent ends of the container and bodyin elevated position with respect to the horizontal when the container is inopen position, whereby one or more transparencies in ate Eddy and in 5 w the container may be stacked therein in a stable inclined 1,771,967 position. 1,868,103 1,895,778 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,701 3 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,273,894 Madison July 30, 1918 24 273 35 1,502,094 Gallagher July 22, 1924 6 Neiley July 29, 1930 Herhhy, July 19, 1932 Andrews Ian. 31, 1933 Mills Feb. 8, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Australia Sept. 3, 1936 

